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University System of Ohio Teams with the Ohio Environmental Council to Link Education and Training with Green Industry Jobs in Ohio

For Immediate Release | July 28, 2009

COLUMBUS — Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut today announced the launch of Ohio Green Pathways, a collaboration of the University System of Ohio and the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) designed to link education and training with green industry jobs in Ohio. It will demonstrate career pathways for students in green education programs, increase enrollment in these programs, and help ensure that the state's workforce demands are met.

"The partnership helps the University System of Ohio build the state's new economy, as envisioned by Governor Ted Strickland, through green job initiatives that recognize economic and environmental goals are complementary," Chancellor Fingerhut said. "It also supports the vision of Ohio's 10-year Strategic Plan for Higher Education pertaining to higher education's role in being an intentional and accountable contributor to the economic growth of the state."

The chancellor further noted that the collaboration advances the Strategic Plan goal of making higher education more responsive to the workforce needs of Ohio businesses by shaping education and training to fit the skills sought by employers.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Chancellor and the OEC specifies the agency will collaborate with an Executive on Loan from the OEC to:  

  1. Create a database of carefully linked green programs in the University System of Ohio.
  2. Identify current best practices in green education and training programs in Ohio and across the nation.
  3. Meet anticipated workforce demand through new and expanded development of workforce training in the University System of Ohio's adult career-technical education sites and community colleges, expand access to affordable associate, bachelor's, and advanced degrees that lead to careers in Ohio, and identify resources to help expand the University System of Ohio's capacity to produce a green collar workforce.
  4. Build and market linkages between education and training and green industry jobs as an economic development tool for the state of Ohio.

"The Ohio Environmental Council is excited to start this new partnership with the University System of Ohio," said OEC Executive Director Keith Dimoff. "Together, we have a prime opportunity to help reinforce Ohio's green workforce development leadership. The Pathways project also presents a unique opportunity to showcase the extraordinary work of Ohio's community college, university, and adult career-technical education network."

Contact: Michael Chaney, Chief Communications Officer, Ohio Board of Regents
Office: (614) 752-9480 Cell: (614) 633-5909
E-mail: mchaney@regents.state.oh.us

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